The Broncos have faced no team more in the franchise's history — playoff appearances included — than the Raiders.

Sunday will be the 106th edition, with the Raiders having a 59-42-2 advantage in the regular season to go with a 1-1 mark in postseason meetings. It is Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning's first ride in the rivalry. And frankly, nothing in the AFC South comes close to what's on the way Sunday.

"Plus, you know, we hate the Raiders around here," is how Champ Bailey put it. "When you're a Bronco for a little while you'll understand the passion for hating a team like that."

The Raiders have won the last four times they've come to Denver. To keep it from being five, here are a few things for the Broncos to tighten up.

• Slow down the Raiders rush. Former Broncos defensive coordinator and current Raiders coach Dennis Allen figures to overload the gaps in the middle of the Broncos offensive line. Remember, this is a guy who rushed Von Miller directly over the opposing center at times last season when he was calling plays for the Broncos defense.

He believes in stressing an offensive line's middle three. It's also where the Broncos have had the most difficulty at times keeping the area around Manning clean. Manning has been sacked too often (eight times) and hit too often. Unless the Broncos are in a hurry to see Brock Osweiler play, they need to find a way to hold their ground.

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• Run it. Nothing protects a quarterback better than the threat of a quality rushing attack.

It also puts the play-action game on the table because defenses have to actually pay attention to the run fakes instead of simply sprinting right by them on the way to the quarterback. The Broncos are averaging just 3.6 yards per carry this season, and Willis McGahee is the only back with a run longer than 11 yards.

The Raiders are big up front with three 300-pounders in the starting defensive line with Tommy Kelly (325 pounds), Richard Seymour (317) and Lamarr Houston (300).

If the Broncos can't handle those three at the point of attack, they'll watch linebackers Rolando McClain and Philip Wheeler make an awful lot of tackles.

• Find some discipline. The Raiders offense, with former Texans and 49ers assistant Greg Knapp calling the plays, will mirror plenty of what Houston coach Gary Kubiak had on the docket against the Broncos last weekend.

Especially early in the game when you can bet the Raiders will flash one of those play-action, rollout plays to see whether the Broncos safeties will bite the same way they did against the Texans last Sunday. Carson Palmer has plenty of arm to go over the top if he sees the opening.

Also, the Raiders will target Miller in the passing game, as the Texans did at times, to try to take advantage of the Broncos' sack leader's aggressiveness in chasing quarterbacks. Raiders running back Darren McFadden leads Oakland in receiving, and the Raiders will certainly try to sneak him in behind Miller's rush plenty in this one.

• Tackle McFadden. It has certainly been easier said than done over the previous two seasons.

The last three times McFadden has faced the Broncos, he has rushed for at least 119 yards and averaged at least six yards per carry along the way. McFadden has also gained an alarming number of yards after first contact.

That was no more true than in his 165-yard, three-touchdown effort in 2010 when the video showed a cast of Broncos on the ground after each run. Tackling is far more the discipline and willingness to do the right things the right way every time rather than athleticism.

Yes, you need the speed and explosiveness to get there, especially with a player like McFadden. But upon arrival, the Broncos simply need old-school, square-up desire to get him to the ground. If he clears 100 yards again, the Broncos' chances of winning dip significantly because he's likely to have 50 or so yards receiving as well. He had 13 catches for 86 yards alone against the Chargers in the opener.

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